Fiend Angelical
That night, as Kristina lay curled in an armchair (a heavy blanket had draped over her by a passing porter) with one hang curled tightly around the scroll of her violin. Erik emerged from his mirror and stood over her, admiring the way her golden locks fell against her pale face. She was quite a pretty child. He gently reached out and stroked her cheek. She murmured softly and tightened her grip on 'Signor'. The murderer smiled. Softly, sweetly, with his godlike voice, he sang her a slumber free from nightmares, full of lovely dreams. It was the best sleep of her life.
The next day, however, Kristina dreamed of darkness, and a white face peering out at her, and it stank of death. She woke up with blood on her lips and a scream on her tongue. She called for her mother; she didn't know where she was. Erik answered her, and she cried, sobbed with relief when he tried to sooth her with his voice. The golden sound wrapped around her like a blanket; and finally she slept.
On Monday morning, she woke up early, showered and brushed her hair until it shone. She cleaned Signor, tuned him to perfection and swept a curtsy as she walked out of her room. "I'll be watching." whispered the Voice. Kristina smiled.
There were some odd looks when the young girl walked into the rehearsal and began applying rosin to her bow. They elbowed and stared; when they asked her if she was lost they were met with stony silence and patronizing blue eyes.
Monsiuer Condecteur arrived as angry as usual but to everyone's great surprise he flashed a small expression that wasn't quite a frown in young girl's direction. She beamed back at him.
"Very well. Let us begin. Henri, give us an A!"
And so Kristina's career at the Parisian Opera house begun.
She was undeniably talented, and it wasn't just for her age. She could match any of the old seasoned violinists, play just as fast or quietly or as well as any of them. A little grumbling was heard when she was promoted to first seat; but Kristina was sweet and most of the musicians didn't begrudge her success. Instead, they whispered and rumored and guessed who was it, who was it that taught her?
That night, as Kristina lay curled in an armchair (a heavy blanket had draped over her by a passing porter) with one hang curled tightly around the scroll of her violin. Erik emerged from his mirror and stood over her, admiring the way her golden locks fell against her pale face. She was quite a pretty child. He gently reached out and stroked her cheek. She murmured softly and tightened her grip on 'Signor'. The murderer smiled. Softly, sweetly, with his godlike voice, he sang her a slumber free from nightmares, full of lovely dreams. It was the best sleep of her life.
The next day, however, Kristina dreamed of darkness, and a white face peering out at her, and it stank of death. She woke up with blood on her lips and a scream on her tongue. She called for her mother; she didn't know where she was. Erik answered her, and she cried, sobbed with relief when he tried to sooth her with his voice. The golden sound wrapped around her like a blanket; and finally she slept.
On Monday morning, she woke up early, showered and brushed her hair until it shone. She cleaned Signor, tuned him to perfection and swept a curtsy as she walked out of her room. "I'll be watching." whispered the Voice. Kristina smiled.
There were some odd looks when the young girl walked into the rehearsal and began applying rosin to her bow. They elbowed and stared; when they asked her if she was lost they were met with stony silence and patronizing blue eyes.
Monsiuer Condecteur arrived as angry as usual but to everyone's great surprise he flashed a small expression that wasn't quite a frown in young girl's direction. She beamed back at him.
"Very well. Let us begin. Henri, give us an A!"
And so Kristina's career at the Parisian Opera house begun.
She was undeniably talented, and it wasn't just for her age. She could match any of the old seasoned violinists, play just as fast or quietly or as well as any of them. A little grumbling was heard when she was promoted to first seat; but Kristina was sweet and most of the musicians didn't begrudge her success. Instead, they whispered and rumored and guessed who was it, who was it that taught her?
